[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 56 (Friday, March 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15122-15123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5760]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Emergency Food Assistance Program; Availability of Commodities 
for Fiscal Year 2008

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the surplus and purchased commodities 
that the Department expects to make available for donation to States 
for use in providing nutrition assistance to the needy under the 
Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2008. The 
commodities made available under this notice must, at the discretion of 
the State, be distributed to eligible recipient agencies for use in 
preparing meals and/or for distribution to households for home 
consumption.

DATES: Effective Date: October 1, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lillie Ragan, Assistant Branch Chief, 
Policy Branch, Food Distribution Division, Food and Nutrition Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, 
Virginia 22302-1594 or telephone (703) 305-2662.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the provisions set forth 
in the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (EFAA), 7 U.S.C. 7501 
note, the

[[Page 15123]]

Food Stamp Act of 1977, 7 U.S.C. 2011, et seq., and the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2008, the Department makes commodities and 
administrative funds available to States for use in providing nutrition 
assistance to those in need through TEFAP. In accordance with 7 CFR 
251.3(h), 60 percent of each State's share of TEFAP commodities and 
administrative funds is based on the number of people with incomes 
below the poverty level within the State and 40 percent on the number 
of unemployed persons within the State. State officials are responsible 
for establishing the network through which the commodities will be used 
by eligible recipient agencies (ERAs) in providing nutrition assistance 
to those in need, and for allocating commodities and administrative 
funds among those agencies. States have full discretion in determining 
the amount of commodities that will be made available to ERAs for use 
in preparing meals and/or for distribution to households for home 
consumption.
    The types of commodities the Department expects to make available 
to States for distribution through TEFAP in FY 2008 are described 
below.

Surplus Commodities

    Surplus commodities donated for distribution under TEFAP are 
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) commodities purchased under the 
authority of section 416 of the Agricultural Act of 1949, 7 U.S.C. 1431 
(section 416) and commodities purchased under the surplus removal 
authority of section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935, 7 U.S.C. 612c 
(section 32). The types of commodities typically purchased under 
section 416 include dairy, grains, oils, and peanut products. The types 
of commodities purchased under section 32 include meat, poultry, fish, 
vegetables, dry beans, juices, and fruits.
    In FY 2008, the Department anticipates that there will be 
sufficient quantities of cherry products, grapefruit juice, tomatoes, 
green beans, carrots, peas, spinach, canned beef stew, canned beef, and 
canned pork to support the distribution of these commodities through 
TEFAP. Other surplus commodities may be made available to TEFAP 
throughout the year. The Department would like to point out that 
commodity acquisitions are based on changing agricultural market 
conditions; therefore, the availability of commodities is subject to 
change.
    Approximately $16.9 million in surplus commodities acquired in FY 
2007 are being delivered to States in FY 2008. These commodities 
include canned chicken, peanut butter, instant milk, apple juice, 
applesauce, apricots, frozen asparagus, canned asparagus, cherry apple 
juice, lamb leg roast, lamb shoulder chops.

Purchased Commodities

    In accordance with section 27 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, 7 
U.S.C. 2036, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, the 
Secretary is directed to purchase annually, through FY 2008, $140 
million worth of commodities for distribution through TEFAP. These 
commodities are made available to States in addition to those surplus 
commodities which otherwise might be provided to States for 
distribution under TEFAP. However, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2008, permits States to convert any or their entire fair share of $10 
million of these funds to administrative funds to pay costs associated 
with the distribution of TEFAP commodities at the State and local 
level.
    For FY 2008, the Department anticipates purchasing the following 
commodities for distribution through TEFAP: dehydrated potatoes, frozen 
ground beef, frozen whole and cut-up chicken, frozen ham, frozen turkey 
roast, blackeye beans, great northern beans, light kidney beans, light 
red kidney beans, lima beans, pinto beans, egg mix, lowfat bakery mix, 
egg noodles, white and yellow corn grits, macaroni, oats, peanut 
butter, whole grain rotini, roasted peanuts, rice, spaghetti, vegetable 
oil, bran flakes, corn flakes, oat cereal, rice cereal, corn cereal, 
and corn and rice cereal; and the following canned items: green beans, 
blackeye beans, refried beans, vegetarian beans, carrots, cream corn, 
whole kernel corn, peas, sliced potatoes, pumpkin, spaghetti sauce, 
spinach, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, mixed 
vegetables, low salt tomato soup, apple juice, cherry apple juice, 
cranapple juice, grape juice, grapefruit juice, orange juice, tomato 
juice, apricots, applesauce, mixed fruit, peaches, pears, plums, beef, 
beef stew, chicken, pork, tuna, and turkey.
    The amounts of each item purchased will depend on the prices the 
Department must pay, as well as the quantity of each item requested by 
the States. Changes in agricultural market conditions may result in the 
availability of additional types of commodities or the non-availability 
of one or more types listed above.

    Dated: March 13, 2008.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E8-5760 Filed 3-20-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P